1st Order RL Transient Problem

Thread Starter

bluetooth tamer

Joined Jan 16, 2015
23
Hi,

I spent some time looking into how to find tau (time constant) of this circuit shown in the professor's handwritten problem and couldn't fully grasp whether he made a mistake or I had. Could some be so kind to help me out with the problem.

Here's the problem copied and worked out by me.
IMAG0168.jpg


Here's my professors work. The problem is the one underneath the line.
Capture.PNG
My concern is that the time constants don't match up. I have tau = 4/9 and he has it = 2/9. Which is right?
My guess is that I didn't make any mistakes and he copied the time constant form the problem above the line by accident into the problem below the line.
 

t_n_k

Joined Mar 6, 2009
5,455
Yes the mistake is presumably yours. You have the switch closing at t=0 sec, whereas it is stated in your prof's solution that the switch has been closed for sufficient time before t=0 to allow the current to reach steady state. The switch is then opened at t=0 sec.
 

Thread Starter

bluetooth tamer

Joined Jan 16, 2015
23
Yes the mistake is presumably yours. You have the switch closing at t=0 sec, whereas it is stated in your prof's solution that the switch has been closed for sufficient time before t=0 to allow the current to reach steady state. The switch is then opened at t=0 sec.
I think that the intention for the second part of the problem was to change the condition for the switch. The instructions say that if the switch has already been open while dc steady state then find i(t) when t >0 where at t =0 the switch closes. Does this argument address what you meant?
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,979
You both need to be slapped for sloppy treatment of your units -- your instructor needs to be slapped much harder just because they are the instructor.

To find the time constant you want to find the resistance seen by the inductor for the circuit as it is configured at that moment.

When the switch is open, the inductor sees (3Ω+6Ω)=9Ω of resistance and so the time constant is tau=L/R=2H/9Ω=(2/9)s.

When the switch is closed, the inductor sees (3Ω+(6Ω||2Ω))=(3Ω+(12/8)Ω)=(9/2)Ω of resistance and so the time constant is tau=L/R=2H/((9/2)Ω)=(4/9)s.
 

t_n_k

Joined Mar 6, 2009
5,455
You both need to be slapped for sloppy treatment of your units -- your instructor needs to be slapped much harder just because they are the instructor.
I think we should have a new video made for the video forum.
I'd like to suggest the title - "The Wrath of WBahn" - with the none too subtle Star Trek reference.
You would, of course, take the lead role.

Apologies to @bluetooth tamer about this hijack. And yes, I missed your point about the second part of the problem. Unfortunately - both you and the prof got that solution wrong. A worrying outcome.
 
Last edited:

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,979
I think we should have a new video made for the video forum.
I'd like to suggest the title - "The Wrath of WBahn" - with the none too subtle Star Trek reference.
You would, of course, take the lead role.
I'm envisioning a parody of a couple of scenes from the movie and I think it could be hilarious!
 
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